On Joe Soares’ residency in Calgary Centre

Over at the CBC, Kady O’Malley notes that Calgary lawyer Rick Billington has joined the race for Conservative nominee in Calgary Centre, and floats some questions about another candidate, former prime ministerial advisor, Joe Soares.

Things seem to be heating up in the Joe Soares camp. O’Malley notes a statement from Soares wherein he attacks Joan Crockatt, who was one of the first to announce her intention to run for the Conservative slot.

Attempts on this end to get in touch with Soares for an interview are still coming up empty. I was told he will not be speaking to the press until after he wins the nomination (should that occur). His executive assistant, Milos Georgijev, wrote in an email that Soares’ “full focus” is currently needed for the campaign.

O’Malley also notes that there have yet to be any sightings of Soares in the riding. Indeed, at the moment, the address listed on the VoteforJoe.ca website is only an administrative mailing address, as I discovered when I visited it unannounced last week.

Instead, Georgijev told me, “we generally work out of Joe’s apartment in the riding.” He does, apparently, have a home address in Calgary Centre.

Georgijev also noted via email that Soares’ region of origin is not an issue.

“The idea that because he is not originally from Calgary somehow makes him less capable of defending the interests of his constituents [is] ridiculous,” Georgijev wrote. “People here don’t give a dam (sic) where he is from – they want to know what he thinks and what he stands for. That’s what is important to the people.”

Georgijev did, however, extend an invitation for me to visit Calgary Centre, “to see for yourself why he thinks we are so blessed to live in this, the best City, in the best country in the World!”